hikespeak

Tumbling through an enchanting Tasmania rainforest, Liffey Falls is considered one of the island state's prettiest waterfalls. A 2.2-kilometer (1.4-mile) round trip walking track to the falls descends 70 meters in elevation past three enticing cascades in the Liffey River before reaching the photogenic falls. The trail is located in Liffey Falls State Reserve near the center of Tasmania in... Read more.

Cape Woolamai is a 308-hectar (760-acre) reserve established in 1968. The preserve protects the southeast end of Phillip Island and also the highest point on the island, a 112-meters-above-sea-level crest on the bluffs at the top of Cape Woolamai. The summit isn't much of a climb, so sandy beaches and stunning granite cliffs are the real draw for hikers. Thanks to a small network of... Read more.

The western end of Phillip Island holds two of the island's top attractions, the Nobbies and the Penguin Parade, which can be connected by an oceanfront stroll through a scenic reserve on the southern coast of Phillip Island. This walk is not actually along a trail, but on a gravel road that can be used by hikers, bikers, and drivers. Why go for a hike on a road you could drive on? The road... Read more.

In the morning and early afternoon, Summerlands Beach is a low-key place to visit, with a surf break and lots of sand for building castles or having a picnic. In the evening, the beach transforms as visitors gather to watch the Penguin Parade, a nightly return of thousands of little penguins that commute up the beach to burrows in the surrounding bluffs. While you would need to reserve a... Read more.

Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia has a lot to offer its visitors, like beautiful coastlines and the internationally-heralded Penguin Parade. Point Grant, the western tip of Phillip Island is just a few kilometers past the Penguin Parade facilities at Summerlands Beach and home to a seal colony, dramatic sea bluffs, and panoramic ocean views. Point Grant is better known as the... Read more.

Pyramid Rock is a triangle-shaped rock island just off the southern coast of Phillip Island, a popular destination in Victoria, Australia made famous by the Penguin Parade. A short 800 meter (0.5 miles) round trip return walk travels out onto a grassy point approaching Pyramid Rock. Overlooks at the midway point and the end of this short trail allow hikers to take in coastal views that... Read more.

Wilsons Promontory is the southernmost point on Mainland Australia and it stands out in other ways too, with coastal beauty that's hard to beat. See what the Prom has to offer on this day hike across a boulder-strewn point between bays of clear turquoise water with pale sand beaches. There are ocean and mountain views to enjoy at every turn of this walk as it takes you from the park's main... Read more.

Monserate Mountain offers a workout of a hike, beginning just off Interstate 15 in the Northern San Diego County city of Fallbrook, just ten miles south of Temecula in Riverside County. There is 1,200 vertical feet between the trailhead at the base of Monserate Mountain and the panoramic summit at the top, tackled on a 1 2/3-mile ascent. You can turn around at the top for a 3 1/3-mile... Read more.

Very few places in nature would you feel comfortable getting up close to 5,000-pound animals. Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is one of them. While visiting the seal colony, you can get up close to these impressive (and vocal) animals and observe them in their natural habitat. In addition to two quarter-mile long boardwalk trails, the rookery is also the starting point for a dirt... Read more.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a dramatic desert wonderland, with striking rock formations that point skyward at a 45-degree angle. This 932-acre Los Angeles County Park delivers a scenic desert backdrop for hikers, and is just a quick drive from LA. This pairing of unique beauty and convenience has made Vasquez Rocks a popular location for the film industry and the park has a long list... Read more.